“Who
was that?” Matt asked as he stepped into the bedroom
with a towel wrapped around his shapely waist.

“It
was Metro. It appears that Abe was hired by Christine to
keep her informed about our movements. Looks like she planned a big
time hit,
since she also was told about Tyler and Dan’s whereabouts if there was
any
information that Abe could glean from either Tyler’s or Dan’s offices.
When
Mabel caught him in the act of digging through the files, he panicked
and hit
her in order to escape. That’s the long and short of it.”

“What
are they going to do with him?” Matt asked.

“He’s
charged with simple battery and will be prosecuted
unless Mabel decides not to press charges.”

“Do
you think she’ll let him off?”

“No,
I talked to Mabel today. She was pissed, and I think
she’ll let the charges ride. I don’t think there will be a big
sentence, but
nonetheless he’ll be out of circulation for awhile.”

“Speaking of circulation,” Matt said slyly, “I feel
something circulating below this towel. I think I have an appendage
that could
use a bit of slippy friction.”

The
towel dropped from his hips onto the floor leaving him
standing there, a picture of manly beauty.

“You’ve got my attention, my Apollo,” Ron said with a sly
grin, unbuttoning his shirt as he moved toward his partner. He quickly
shed the
shirt and was working on the buckle of his trousers, when Matt wrapped
his arms
around Ron’s shoulders and drew him into a kiss.

***

Friday morning,
in the breakfast room of Ron and Matt’s
house.

Ronnie appeared in the doorway of the breakfast room where
Ron and Matt were
drinking
cups of coffee while they waited for their future son to join them. He
had no sooner joined them at
the table, than Mary
arrived with a glass of orange juice.

“Thanks Mary,” smiled Ronnie.

The
older lady smiled back and replied, “You’re welcome
Ronnie.”

Tyler
appeared next, sitting down with the trio after
getting a cup of coffee on the way.

“Well, today’s the big day,” Ron commented. “With luck we’ll
get the Senator out of our hair, and Dan and Jerry will be returning. “

“Neither can happen fast enough for me,” Tyler stated
firmly.

“Me
neither,” Ronnie added with
a blush.

It
was obvious that he was not thinking about Senator Young.

“I’ve
got another surprise too,” Ron announced. “It’s a good
one.”

“You’ve been holding out on me?” Matt asked.

“Yep,” Ron said with a smile. “I wasn’t sure how it would
all turn out, so only Tyler has been aware of it. I didn’t want either
of you
to be disappointed if we weren’t successful.”

“I
don’t understand,” Matt said. “Why would you tell Tyler
and not me?”

“I
needed his help and that of Aztec-Turner Security,” Ron
explained. “The paperwork is all finished and we’ll receive it this
morning at
the office.”

“Ok
then, spill the
beans,” Ronnie demanded.

“I’ve
been in contact with your father, Ronnie.”

Ronnie frowned. “Yeah? What does that bastard want?”

“It’s
not what he wants that’s important. It’s what Matt and
I want.”

“What
do you want that’s worth talking to that son-of-a-bitch?”
Ronnie asked with hostility.

“We
want you to legally be our son,” Ron answered simply.

A
look of disbelief crossed Ronnie’s face. “You still do?
You mean like adoption?”

“Yes,
with all our hearts,” Ron said looking
at Matt whose smile was a mile wide.

“Ronnie’s dad said ‘yes’?” Matt asked with surprise.

“He
said ‘yes,” Ron replied. “It took a little doing, but we
have the papers in our possession, signed, sealed, and notarized.”

“Wahoo!” Ronnie shrieked and leaped from his chair knocking
over his half-full glass of juice in his excitement.He rushed to Ron and hugged him in excitement. Matt rose from
his
chair and joined the pair in a three-way hug.

“Looks like we’re going to have a double adoption ceremony,”
Tyler commented. “We decided to go ahead with our plans.”

“You
and Dan are gonna adopt me too?” asked a confused
Ronnie.

“No
silly,” Matt explained, “Tyler and Dan are going to
adopt Jerry.”

“Oh,
man! That’s so neat!” Ronnie said excitedly.

“Yes, he’ll be your cousin.” Tyler confirmed.

Ronnie paused, thinking.

“Uh,
does that mean that we can’t be boyfriends?” he asked
with a blush.

“No,”
Matt replied. “You’re going to be cousins, but not
related by blood, only legally. It doesn’t much matter anyway,” he
continued. “The
social prohibition against cousins being married was intended to
discourage
inbreeding within families so that regressive genes were not
reinforced.”

“Huh?” Ronnie asked.

“It’s
like if you had a gene in your body that caused you to
have a weak heart and you married your sister who also had that gene,
you’re
children would likely have
that same
gene, except perhaps reinforced enough that it could be life
threatening. Since
gay people are not going to have children with their same-sex mate, it
wouldn’t
matter genetically if your partner was your brother.”

“Oh,
now I
understand,” said Ronnie.

“That
doesn’t mean
that it would be accepted socially, even among other gay people. Some
of the
social taboos we’ve grown up with are so deeply rooted that people
believe they
are immutable rules, even though the real reason for the taboo doesn’t
apply.
It’s one reason that many straight people have such difficulty
accepting gays.
They were brought up to believe that being gay was just plain wrong.
The
feeling is just as prevalent with the non-religious as the religious,
though
the religious use their religion as justification for their prejudice.
It’s
that same kind of taboo though that makes partnering with someone
you’re
related too, in some people’s eyes, unacceptable.”

“But
it’s okay with you if Jerry and I are boyfriends, even
if we’re cousins?” Ronnie asked.

“Yes
Ronnie,” Ron replied. “Who you choose as your friends
and your partner is up to you alone. If we think you’re making a bad
choice we
might advise against it, but the real decision is up to you.”

“Cool. When are Jerry and me gonna get adopted?”

Matt
looked at Ron and Tyler for the answer.

“We
are planning on adopting Jerry at the end of next week,”
Tyler said. “I started the paperwork yesterday. It’s nice that Ron has
such
good connections with the judiciary. I was amazed at how the name
Turner helps
to grease the wheels of government.”

“What
wheels?” Ronnie asked, confused again.

The
three men laughed.

“It’s
just an expression, Ronnie,” Matt explained. “It means
that it makes the administrative processes of government move faster.”

“You
guys sure talk funny,” Ronnie mumbled.

“Anyway,” Tyler continued, “Now all we need to do is to add
Ronnie’s adoption to the proceedings I’ve already started.”

“I’ll
handle that,” Ron offered. “I’m sure we can arrange
it.”

“If
not,” Tyler responded, “We’ll move Jerry’s adoption
further away. I think it would mean more if the boys were adopted
together.”

“Ok,”
Ron said. “I’ll take care of it this morning.”

“What
time are Dan and Jerry arriving from Houston?”

“They
should be in by noon,” Tyler replied. “They will pick
up two hours in time zone changes, so they can leave fairly late and
still be
here reasonably early.”

“Can
I skip school and be here when Jerry gets here?” Ronnie
asked hopefully.

“No!”
was the reply from three voices in unison.

“Great minds think alike,” Ron observed with a grin.

**

Friday
Morning, 10:30 AM, Senator Young’s study

The phone rang once and Ben Young
snatched it from its
cradle. He had just returned from collecting the cash necessary for the
pay
off.

“Ben
Young,” he answered into the receiver.

“This
is Charlie, Senator. Do you have the money?”

“Yes,” Ben answered. “Most if it is in hundreds, but I do
have $5000 in smaller bills.”

“Good,” the majority leader answered. “Here are the
instructions.”

“I’m
listening,” Ben replied as he prepared to write down
the instructions.

“Place the money in a brown paper-wrapped box. Put your name
and address on it as the return address and address the package to
‘Denver
Trust, Attention, Frank Jones, 6969 Argyle, that’s A-R-G-Y-L-E Street,
Phoenix
Arizona, 85757’.Read that back”

Ben
Young read back the address.

“Make
the package easy to open, as the recipient will open
it in your presence. Go to Meadows Mall at 1 PM. When you get to the
Mall, go
in the Southeast entrance. Inside the entrance, you will see a store
for ‘Big
Dogs’, the local store for Bratwurst sandwiches. Go to the counter and
present
the package to the attendant there wearing a carnation pinned to his
uniform
and announce that it is a delivery. He will take you in the back and
open the
box and count the money. Then you are to leave. We will take care of
all the
rest.”

“How
will I know that everything is handled?” Ben asked.

“You
won’t right away. Within the next week you
will find out through your lawyer that the
Judge assigned to the case has been replaced by another. That will be
your
confirmation.”

“I
understand,” Ben responded.

“You
won’t hear any more from me. And listen, you bastard,
you’d better be at my side in the next legislative session.”

“You
have my promise,” Ben assured the Majority Leader.

“Fine. Goodbye Ben.”

“Goodbye Senator.”

Ben
hung up the phone, and muttered under his breath, “You
son-of-a-bitch! You’ll be suckin’ my dick before I’m through.”

He
picked up his keys and headed for the door. He needed to
buy some brown wrapping paper.

* **

9 AM Houston Texas, MD Anderson Hospital

“As
I’ve told you before,” the doctor said to Dan and Jerry,
“Jerry’s condition is nothing but amazing! Since the results of Jerry’s
treatment showed such incredible results, we have tried the same
combination of
drugs on other patients. The treatment is showing signs of being a
major
breakthrough. Several of our patients who were terminal, have recovered
sufficiently to be out of immediate danger. There’s so much we don’t
know yet,
that there’s a long way to go. We’re not sure, for instance, why
the
treatment works or if the treatment is a permanent cure. Once we know
those
things, we’ll have a much better chance of licking the disease. We’re
asking
that you bring Jerry back once a month for testing. Perhaps in a short
while
we’ll have enough other success stories that we can make those trips
less
frequent, and just be able to monitor his condition from tests taken in
Las
Vegas.”

“You’ll have our complete cooperation,” Dan promised. “Tyler
and I will be adopting Jerry as soon as possible and you have the
information
to contact us at any time.”

“We
certainly appreciate that,” the doctor continued. “For
the time being, we’re taking him off of all medication. It is a bit
risky, but
for the next two months we’d like weekly blood tests taken in Nevada to
monitor
his condition as well as the trips here where more thorough testing
will be
done. If he even begins to show signs of going out of remission, we’ll
resume
treatment. It will tell us a great deal about the long term
expectations from
the treatment.”

The
doctor turned his full attention to Jerry.

“Son,” he said earnestly, “I know that all this sounds kinda
scary and a lot of trouble considering how well you’re doing, but I can
only
assure you that it is really important. A lot of people are going to
live
because of what we’re learning. You’ve been very brave and we’re still
asking a
lot of you. Dan and Tyler have been wonderful and have shown over and
over
again that they really love you. You’re a lucky boy. Their foundation
is also
providing money to help others like you, which will save many lives. We
had a
meeting of the Board of Directors of MD Anderson yesterday. Normally
when a new
treatment or procedure is discovered, the name for the treatment is
that of the
doctor or team that discovers it. Yesterday, we voted to name the new
procedure
after your Grandmother. From now on it will be known as the ‘Emma
Thorsruud
Procedure’.”

“Yeah,” Jerry said with his eyes full of tears. “Now she can
be remembered by more than just me and her friends.”

“She’ll be known to the world,” the doctor stated. “Next
month, we’re going to publish our discoveries in medical journals and
in the
news media. We’re rushing it a bit, but it’s important that lives are
saved.
You’ll be famous, too.”

“I
don’t want to be famous,” Jerry replied. “I just want to
be well, and to live with Dan and Tyler.”

“Getting you’re first wish looks more than promising,” the
doctor replied.

“And
your second is a
‘for sure,” Dan added giving his young future son a hug.

“I
guess that’s all we
need to talk about for now,” the physician said smiling. “We’ll
see you in a month.”

“Thanks for everything doctor,” Dan said, extending his
hand, then looking at Jerry he said, “Come on son, we’ve a plane to
catch.”

***

11 AM, Ron’s office

Tyler
walked into Ron’s office to find that Matt was there
too.

“Hi
guys,” Tyler said smiling at the pair seated at Ron’s
desk.

“Hi
Tyler,” Matt said first, followed by his partner’s echo.

“How’s the sting progressing?” Ron asked.

“We
just finished the surveillance camera installation at
Meadows. We wanted to be done early, in case the Senator decided to
scope out
the place way ahead of schedule. All the agents and Metro plainclothes
officers
are in place. We are watching the Senator too, just in case he decides
to do
something unexpected.”

“Is
the security team still with Ronnie?” Matt asked.

“Yes,
we decided to keep them in place until this operation
is over, just as a precaution,” Tyler replied,
“You
never know what the Senator is going to do. He might try something as a
diversion.”

“Have
you heard anything on the arrival of Dan and Jerry? “
Tyler asked.

“Yes,” Ron answered. “Jan Bounett just called saying that
the G-V is expected to land at 11:45.Matt will be leaving shortly for the airport to pick them up,
‘cause you
and I should stay here and monitor the situation with the Senator until
it’s
over. Once he’s in custody I think we should take a long weekend and go
out on
the houseboat on Lake Mead.School will
be out next week, so after the adoption ceremony on Friday, perhaps we
can go
to the condo in San Diego for an entire week.”

“I
take it you got the adoption arrangements all
worked out?” Tyler inquired.

“Yes,
it’s set for Friday at 3:30 in the afternoon. Since
it’s also the last day of school, I didn’t want either Ronnie or Jerry
to miss
anything there. We’ll take some nice clothes and they can change at the
courthouse. I thought we’d have a nice dinner with our friends to
celebrate, then
on Saturday morning, go to California.”

“It
sounds good to me,”
Tyler responded. “The PT-I arrived there two days ago, so we can take a
cruise
too if we’d like. Anyway, we can talk some more about it tonight with
Dan and
Jerry. There’s been so much going on and such uncertainty with Jerry’s
condition, it’s been hard to plan ahead.”

“That’s for sure,” Ron agreed. “There are a number of other
things we need to discuss too. For
example, how
is the purchase of the Atlanta office going, and what’s the timing for
concluding the deal. Also, you guys need to get the plans for your
house going
if you intend to be under construction by fall.

“There’s the issue of who’s going to run the Atlanta office
too,” continued Ron. “I hope we can resolve that, and also make sure
the plans
for Parker and Mary’s wedding are on track. I’d like to have all that
done
before we take a week off.”

“Yes,” Tyler agreed. “We need to talk about some
longer-range plans too. For instance, if we’re going to go to Europe on
the
PT-II this summer, we’d better start planning. I don’t even know who
has a
passport. Then we need to talk about plans for your island. Are you
going to
develop it or leave it undisturbed?I
know that none of it is pressing, but if we don’t keep nibbling at all
these
things, nothing will get done.”

“Very
true brother,” Ron agreed. “Now that Jerry and Dan are
coming home, there are a lot of plans to make.

“Well, first things first,” Tyler said. “Let’s hope the
thing with the Senator goes as planned, then with Dan and Jerry home
tonight,
we can relax and talk about the future.”

“Well, I’ve got to get moving if I’m going to make it to the
airport on time,” Matt declared.

He
moved to Ron and after giving him a quick kiss, said,
“Bye lover. See ya at home. Bye Tyler.”

“Bye
Matt,” Ron and Tyler both said as the handsome man
exited the room.

At
the same time, Gary Franklin’s office, Aztec-Turner
Security

Gary
picked up the phone in his office and dialed Jessie’s
number at the Thornton Center.

“Not
a problem, big guy,” Jessie responded. “Want to make it
for dinner?”

“I’d
love it,” Gary answered.

“I
was hoping you’d say that,” the recreation director
replied as his disappointment turned into anticipation. “How ‘bout my
place? I
have a small grill that does Filet Mignon just right.”

“How
can I refuse? I love a good piece of meat. What time
would be convenient?”

“6:30
would be good,” Jessie suggested with a smile, not
missing the innuendo. “We could have a couple of drinks first to wind
down.”

“I’ll
be there,” Gary promised. “Love ya.”

“I’m
counting on it,” Jessie answered with his own lightly
veiled response. “Love you too, Babe.”

11:30 AM, Senator Young’s study

Senator Young picked up the phone and punched in the number
for Ronnie’s school. When Lorraine answered, he began, “Hi Sweet. I
need a
favor.”

“Sure
Ben, you know I’d do anything you ask of me,” she
replied.

“Can
you meet me outside the school in 20 minutes?”

“Sure,” she replied. “Pull into the teacher’s parking lot.
I’ll meet you there.”

“Good, I’ll be in my silver Cadillac,” Ben replied. “Have
Orville standing by to go somewhere, I need for him to run an errand
for me.”

“Ok
lover,” Lorraine agreed, then continued in a hushed
voice. “When are you coming over to see me again?” she asked in a
complaining
tone. “It’s been over a month!”

“Listen, sweet, if today goes off without a hitch, I’ll come
over tomorrow night and we can fuck until the sun rises.”

Lorraine smiled in anticipation as she responded in words
barely louder than a whisper, “Okay Ben.You know how I love your big dick.”

“Yes,
I know,” replied Ben
rubbing the large tool between his legs and feeling it start to swell.
“I’m
rubbing it now just thinking of your wet pussy. I have to go now. We
don’t have
much time.”

“Alright. Bye,” she replied, her mind focused on the coming
evening.

Five
minutes later, Tyler’s office.

Tyler, sitting at his desk, picked up the phone on the first
ring.

“Tyler Turner,” he said into the receiver.

“Tyler, this is Wes. I just got a call from our wiretap
guys, and also from our surveillance team. The Senator just called the
school and
is headed there. We don’t know what he’s planning but we need to keep
everyone
alert. We think he’s up to something.”

“Make
sure that John stays near Ronnie at school. I don’t
want to take any chances. Maybe I should go there or to the Mall.”

“No,”
Wes reasoned, “He might recognize you or even Ron or
Matt. It’s important that you stay at the office.”

“You’re right, Wes. Look, I’m going to ask Ron and Matt to
join me in our communication room. If you need to get in touch, I’ll be
there.”

“That’s a good plan,” Wes responded. “I’m there now with
Gary Franklin. We’ll see you in a few.”

“Right! I’ll call Ron and Matt and we’ll meet there.”

“Fine.
Bye,” Wes agreed as he hung up the phone.

***

15 minutes
later, the teacher’s parking lot at Ronnie’s
school.

Ben Young’s
silver Cadillac pulled to the curb where
Lorraine stood waiting. He rolled down the window, and picking up the
box on
the seat beside him, he handed it to the woman.

“Give
this box to Orville. I need him to deliver it at
Meadows Mall precisely at one o’clock. The instructions are taped to
the
wrapping. I will be nearby. If he is refused delivery, he’s to walk
toward the
east through the Mall. I will see him and contact him with further
instructions. He is not to be late. It is VERY important.”

“Next, if there is an accident at school later today,
he will come and see you. You are to
give him
this key,” he continued. “If nothing happens, I’ll get the key back
from you
tomorrow night.”

“Okay
Ben,” I’ll follow your instructions to the letter,”
she replied. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow night,” she continued as
she
touched his shoulder through the open window.

“I’m
looking forward to it too, sweet,” he responded as he
rubbed the tube that lay partially swollen in his trousers, clearly
outlined
for her to see.

Reluctantly she stepped away from the car after hesitating,
taking in the view that the Senator had used so tauntingly to get his
way.

“I’ll
call you tomorrow,” he said. “Make sure you do your
part today. I’ll do mine tomorrow night.”

“You
can depend on me,” she promised stepping back.

“I
know,” Ben said as he forced a smile at the woman,
pressed the ‘up’ switch on the car’s window, and released his foot from
the
brake.

The
car moved away from the curb, left the parking lot, and
turned on the street in the direction of Meadows Mall.

***

12:55
PM, Meadows Mall

The
Mall was unusually crowded as shoppers availed
themselves of the pre-Memorial Day sales that were every retailer’s
hope for a
good month’s ending. Ben Young was seated at the food court entrance to
the
main mall space, sipping a soft drink. From his vantage point he could
see the
counter of the “Big Dog” specialty store a hundred feet away where a
server was
dressed in the store uniform, distinguished from the other workers
there by a
carnation pinned to his shirt. He adjusted his lightly tinted
sunglasses and
raised the newspaper in front of him, hiding his face from casual
onlookers. He
looked over the top of his paper, trying to ascertain if any of the
shoppers
looked suspicious. He noted three men in suits nearby that were talking
in an
animated way, waving their arms and gesturing at an empty storefront
space near
the fast food establishment he was watching. He saw that one of the men
wore a
Meadow Mall badge and they appeared
to be
discussing rental of the empty space. He decided that his paranoia was
getting
the best of him and picked up the plastic soft drink cup and took a
sip.

At
that moment, he saw the exterior doors from the outside
parking lot swing open, and Orville walked in carrying the box that Ben
had
previously given to Lorraine. Looking around, Orville spotted the “Big
Dog”
store and began walking toward it. In his concentration on Orville’s
movement,
Ben failed to see the three
men in front
of the empty store make barely
discernable sideways glances at the husky janitor. Behind the Senator
at
another table two men sat, dressed in casual clothes, enjoying tacos as
they
kept him in their vision.

Orville looked again at the instructions, then stepped to
the counter in front of the man with the carnation.

“I
have a delivery,” Orville stated.

The
man who had been informed of the switch looked at the
box and the address.

“Nope, this doesn’t belong to us,” the guy stated.

“But
I was told specifically to bring it here and give it to
a man with a carnation on his uniform.”

“Look
buddy,” the counterman replied, “I’m the Manager here
and there’s no one here this box could belong to. I’ll be glad to take
your
name and phone number in case we have a customer come in here who’s
looking for
it.”

He
stepped away from the counter after picking up the box
and turned to walk eastward down the mall. He had only gone about 50
feet when
he saw Ben Young sitting at a food court table. When the Senator made
eye
contact with Orville he motioned him over to the table where the
newspaper was
now folded flat.

“Sit
down, Orville,” the Senator ordered in a low voice.
“I’ll take the box.”

Orville placed the box on top of the newspaper, and sat.

“Thanks for following instructions. It looks like I’m going
to have to make the delivery myself. First I’d like to ask you if you’d
do
something for me.”

“Sure
Ben,” Orville replied. “I’ll do anything you want.”

Ben
looked Orville in the eyes, and asked with grim
sincerity, “How’d you like to make a lot of money?”